The revival of the Afro-Asia Cup – a series of white-ball matches played between an Asian XI and an African XI – is on the cards, according to the Africa Cricket Association (ACA). The continental body held its AGM on Saturday, where it appointed a six-man interim committee to restructure the ACA and increase the number of competitive opportunities for players on the continent.
“The Afro-Asia Cup, apart from cricket, brings the much-needed financial input to the organization and the appetite is huge from both ends,” Tavengwa Mukuhlani, interim chairman of the ACA, who is also the Zimbabwe Cricket Chair, told a news conference. “We have had discussions with our colleagues within the Asia Cricket Council and of course our African contingents want the Afro-Asia Cup to be revived.”
While ACC representatives did not respond to Pakinomist at the time of publication about the return of the Afro-Asia Cup, it is understood that no formal request has been made to the ACC, nor has any discussion of this been found on the body’s website last meeting in Malaysia. In 2005, the three-match ODI series was tied 1-1 after a rain-soaked final, and in 2007, Asia XI won all three matches.
The 2005 Asia squad was led by Inzamam-ul-Haq and included Rahul Dravid, Ashish Nehra and Anil Kumble, while the 2007 Asia XI squad included MS Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Yuvraj Singh, Virender Thendulkar and Sachin. Mohammed Asif, Mohammed Yousuf and Shoaib Akhtar. At that time, relations between India and Pakistan were warm on and off the cricket field and the two countries played regular bilateral cricket. However, the Mumbai attacks of 2008 changed that equation and the sides have played a white-ball bilateral series since, in 2012-13. They have only played in ICC events otherwise, with Pakistan traveling to India on a couple of occasions: India have not played in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup.
ACA also plans to launch a “mini version of the IPL”, according to CEO Cassim Suliman, called the Africa Premier League, although it is still in the planning stages. “We are planning, after the approval of the board, to bring the Africa Premier League. That is what we are busy with at the moment on the sponsorship. When it comes together, we will go to the board, the board will okay it and then we will take it from there,” he said. “That is the mini-vision of the IPL. So we take that concept of the IPL and drive that concept to ensure that everyone benefits from that aspect. As for where we will play, the board will decide. We” we will look at facilities , which will justify attendance. Obviously we want to do things right the first time to make sure we get the ball rolling whoever hosts and from there we’ll take it to them from there. It will be like the IPL format but with a lower status and then we will grow it from there.”
There is currently only one franchise tournament in Africa, South Africa’s SA20, but Mukuhlani was hopeful that a South African franchise could become involved in the Africa Premier League and committed Zimbabwean players to the proposed tournament. “The participation of South Africa and Zimbabwe gives context to the competition and there is also the experience that the upcoming teams get from playing alongside players from South Africa and Zimbabwe,” he said. “So yes, we will participate.”
